INFLUENCE OF SOWING DATE AND WEED CONTROL METHODS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogea L.) VARIETIES IN KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

Field trials were carried out during the 2023 wet season at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma Teaching and Research Farm and Tambu-Daura to assess the influence of sowing date and weed control methods on growth and yield groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) varieties. The treatments consisted of three groundnut varieties (SAMNUT 24, SAMNUT 26 and KWAN-KWASIYA), four weed control methods (Imazethapyr at 3 and 6WAS, Imazethapyr at 3WAS + 1 hoe weeding at 6WAS, hoe weeding at 3 and 6WAS and Weedy check) and three sowing dates (4th week of June, first week of July and second week of July) and replicated three times. Split plot design was used to arrange the treatments. Weed control methods and varieties were allocated to main plots and sowing dates were in sub plots. The study revealed that SAMNUT 24 and SAMNUT 26 were statistically similar in all the sampling stages but produced significantly (P<0.05) higher growth and yield parameters than local variety (KWANKWASIYA) at both locations. The results also indicated that sowing groundnut at the first week of July produced significantly (P<0.05) higher values than other sowing dates in most of the measured parameters. Application of various weed control methods produced significantly higher values than weedy check in all the parameters. Imazethapyr application at 3WAS + 1hoe weeding at 6WAS gave better performance than other weed control methods. In conclusion, SAMNUT 24/26, planting at first week of July and Imazethapyr application @3 + 1 hoe weeding at 6WAS seem to be most appropriate in the study area.